Hollin Hall NT
Hebden Bridge
Site Details:
Recorders: Hardcastle Crags Survey Group Distance 2040m Altitude 222m Walk Time approx 1hr 15mins
The mixed woodland, ponds, streams and meadows makes it one of the best wildlife spots in the Pennines for nature watching The locals call the area 'little Switzerland' due to its Alpine style terrain and a wealth of wildlife from birds to bugs. The whole area is densely wooded especially the steep valley sides, with the landscape being characterised by deep rocky ravines, falling streams and wooded areas. Halfway up the valley are the 'Crags' which are impressive stacks of millstone grit, a 'must see' for geology lovers. Hardcastle Crags is well known as the home of the Northern Hairy Wood Ant which lives in huge anthills with nests as large as six feet tall. It also has some fine Meadows
Sections
S1 is one of the meadow areas and is a particular favourite with Meadow Browns, Gatekeeper, Common Blue , Small Skipper and Orange tip but also the whites. White-letter hairstrak was spotted in S1
S2 and 3 goes into woodland and is favoured by Speckled woods.
S4 is another good meadow area and is favoured by Ringlets and Small Heath in particular along with Small Copper and Small Skipper and occcasional Vanessid.
S5 is also favoured by Ringlet Speckled Wood and Green-veined whites plus this is where Green Hairstreaks are sometimes seen.
Results 2022
A good year 13$ higher counts and only a bit down on the recent highpoint in 2019.
Skippers were up with the large Skipper reappearing along with Common Blues . The Whites were up although Orange Tip was down quite a bit .
Red Admiral showed a big increase ,while, as everywhere else, both Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock saw a decrease especially the later which in most places had a disater with almost none seen from late June onwards. Speckled Wood and Wall were well up as with eleswhere and Gatekeeper had a good year and Meadow Browns boomed while Small Heath dropped away significantly as it did in most localities. Ringlets held their own slightly up on teh last two years.
